William Potbury

POTBURY, William Robert - age 87 of Flushing, died March 22, 2023. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 AM Monday, March 27, 2023, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 2415 Bagley St., Flint, MI 48504 with Rev. Fr. Thomas Firestone celebrant. Interment will follow at New Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2-4 and 6-8 PM Sunday at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Rd., Swartz Creek, MI 48473. Visitation will also be held 10 AM - 11 AM Monday at the church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Catholic Charities of Genesee County. William was born July 19, 1935, in Flint, the son of Harry and Viola (McLeish) Potbury. He was a 1953 graduate of Flint Central High School and a veteran of the U.S. Army. William married Mary Goggins on April 25, 1964. As a boy, William enjoyed camping and fishing on Tawas Lake and later on, deer hunting in Northern Michigan with his dad and brother and friends and countless camping vacations with his wife and kids at State Parks all over Michigan. He was very patriotic and was known for flying the American flag on his porch every morning and taking it in at dusk. William was a self-proclaimed “jack of all trades, master of none” and could figure out how to repair or build most anything to fit his needs. He was co-owner and broker at Stevenson-Potbury Realty and later sold and retired from insurance. He was active in the Flushing Chamber of Commerce and served as its President in 1976 and also served on the City of Flushing Planning Commission. William was an avid companion to his sports loving wife, most notably attending Powers Catholic High School Football and Basketball games for more than 40 years. He enjoyed watching boxing and following politics and current events. William loved backyard barbecues, campfires, and cooking Sunday family dinners. In his free time, he enjoyed whittling, making birdhouses and walking sticks. He also enjoyed watching wildlife and birds in his backyard while making notes of his observations with his morning coffee. William was a proud hardworking and selfless family man with a beautiful smile and gentle soul. His greatest pride and passion was his family who he loved and took pride in with all his heart as they still do him. He was named the Father of the Year for the 2014 Flint St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations. He was a good man and the best dad and husband in the world. Surviving are: wife, Mary Potbury; four children, John Potbury, Susan (Matt) Valley, Jennifer (Jon) Chapman, and Amy (Blair) Hopkins; eight grandchildren, Megan, Katelyn, Shannon, Jacob, Abby, Bryce (Clarissa), Kaylee, and Shea; great-grandchild, Bodhi; many nieces and nephews; brothers-in-law, Eddie Goggins and Tommy Goggins; best friend, Howard (Sonja) Melrose; and all his caring and helpful neighbors on Hut-West Drive. He was preceded in death by his parents and two siblings, Shirley Lynch and Harry Potbury, Jr. Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com